Convertible spacing mechanism for type-writers.



W. D. MoGILL.

CONVERTIBLE SPAGING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

4 BKEET8BHEET 1.

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w. 1). MoGILL. CONVERTIBLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908.

Patented Jan.4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[NV N70 Wilda? cfzZZ, BY

A TTORNEY.

WITNESSES.-

W. D. MGGILL- .GONVERTIBLE SPAGING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908. 945,244, Patented Jan.4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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A TTORNE Y.

W. D. MoGILL. CONVERTIBLE SPACING MECHANISM PORTYPB WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3. 1908. 945,244. Patented Jan. 4,v 1910. QBHEBTS-BHEET 4.

w 50 AM 17 73 1 i i i 29 v 7 .F 22 J0 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

A TTORJVE f.

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE D. McG-ILL, OF LEAVENWORTHi, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO P. W. OBRIEN', 0F LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

CONVERTIBLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an 4, 1910, Application filed August 3, 1908. Serial No. 446,766.

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ratchet-wheel having internal teeth, and.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Beit known that I, WALLACE D. MoGILL, a detent 11 carried by the disk and held in a citizen of the United States residing at engagement with the ratchet-wheel by a "Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth spring 12. Disk 8 is loosely mounted upon 7 5 and State of Kansas, have invented certain the rear end of a shaft 13 journaled in a so new and useful Improvements, in Convertibearing 14 and provided at its forward end ble Spacing Mechanism for Type-Writers, with a pinion 15 which inter 681188 with the of whlch the following is a specification. usual rack-bar 16 secured to the carriage, My'invention relates to improvements in which latter is automatically drawn to the 10 typewriter machines; and pertains more left by the customary main spring, not particularly to the spacing mechanism of the shown, after the spacing-key or any of the machine. ty 'ie-keyshavc been operated.

My principal object is to increase the Ratchet wheel .10 is secured to the rear speed of the machine, which I accomplish by end of shaft 13 by a set-screw so that it will 15 forming the space between Words by the turn in elther direction with said shaft.

' same manipulation which prints the final For Instance, when the carriage is moved to characters of the words. the left one step by the main spring, it will Qther objects of the invention will hererotate the ratchet-wheel one step in the diiuafter appear andin order that it may be rectlon of arrow a, (Figs. 1. and 6) through 20 fully understood, reference will now be made the instrumentality of shaft 13, pinion 15, to the accompanying drawings, in which: and rack-bar 16; and disk 8 will be turned Figure 1 represents a broken rear elevawith the ratchet-wheel through the intermetion ofa' typewriter partly in section, prodiacy of detent 11,, but when the carriage is .vided with my invention. Fig. 2 represents drawn to the right by hand to start a new 25 a broken side elevation partly in section of line of writin the ratchet-wheel of course, the same. Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal secwill be rotate backward in a direction op- .tion on line III-III of Fig. 1, with some of posite to that indicated by arrow a, and in the parts removed. Fig. 4 s an enlarged irso doing will slip over the detent 11 and per regular vertical section on line IV-IV of mit disk 8 to remain stationary until' the 30 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section carriage again moves to the left. I on the plane of line IV--IV of Fig. 1. Fig. The rotation of the escapement-wheel in 6 is a detail vertical section of an escapethev direction of arrow at is controlled by a ment-wheel employed in carryin out the mprimary pawl 17 and a secondary pawl 18 vention. Fig. 7 is an enlarge horizontal which former normally engages the escape- 35. section on line VIIVII of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 merit-wheel to lock-the same from rotation. is a detail broken rear elevation of the es- Primary pawl 17, in the present instance is capement-mechanism employed in carrying arranged in the form of a bell-crank lever, out the invention. Fig. 9 is a broken horiand pivotally mounted upon a pin 19 carried zontal section on line IX of Fig. 1, of a by an oscillatory-bar 20, pivotally secured '40 junction lever, two of which are used in at its lower end to the rear portion of frame carrying out the invention. Fig. 10 is a 1, Fi 1. The rightward movement of bar broken erspective of a space-governor em- 20 is limited by a stop 21 against which it is ployed 1n carrying out the invention. normally held by pawl 17 and the esca )0- 1 designates the frame of the typewriter, ment-wheel. Before, or immediately a ter which is provided with a track 2, a carriage the primary pawl 17 is drawn down out', of 3 arranged to travel on said track, and a-keyengagement with the escapemcnt-wheel, the board 4 consistingof a spacing-key 5 and latter is engaged and locked from rotation the usual type-keys 6, a number of which by the secondary pawl 18, which is pivotally latter have been removed from the sectional mounted upon a pin 22 projectin from the 50 view Fig; 3, so that certain parts of the inrear 11 per portion of frame 1. lawl 18 is vention may be seen more clearly. normally held out of engagement with the 7 desl ates an escapement-wheel consist-- escapement-wheel'by a retractile spring .23 ing, pre erably, of a dlsk 8 an annular row secured to frame 1 and the pawl, see Fig. 1. of studs 9 arranged parallel to each other Pawl 18 is also-controlled by a perfecting 55 and extending rearwardly from the disk, a. spring 24 secured thereto'and to frame 1.

Spring 24 pulls on pawl 18 and holds it in proper position to engage the adjacent stud.

of the escape1nent-wheel by taking up any lost motion which may exist between saidadj usting-screw 28 carried by the controller,

so that proper adjustment may be had between the controller and the pawls.

The escapement-mechanis1n above de scribed consisting of the escapement-wheel,

the pawls, and the controller, is actuated by two independent lines of connection, one of which is controlled by the spacing-key 5 and the other by the vtype-keys 6. I will first proceed to describe the line of connection controlled by the spacing-key 5. 29 30 designate a pair of levers fulcrumed upon pins 31 projecting inwardly from opposite side of frame 1. their forward ends to thespacing-key levers by a. pair of cables 32 and interlock at their rear ends with the outer ends of a pair of levers 33 34, respectively, fulcrumed upon pins 35 and having overlapping inner ends, as shown in Fig. 1. Levers 33 34 are adjustably connected to a junction-lever 36 by a cable 37, which extends over a junction-pin 38 and is wound upon an adjusting-screw 39, both of which are secured to the junctionlever 36. Cable 37 forms convenient means for taking up wear and adjusting the parts between the spacing-key levers and lever 36, and it is held taut by a retractile spring 4C0, connected to frame 1 and the outer end of lever 36 for thepurpose of restoring the line Y to normal after the spacing-key has been operated. Lever 36, in addition to being provided with pin 38 and screw 39, is provided with adjusting-screws ll 42, for a purpose hereinafter described. Each adjusting-screw has a transverse opening 43, a knob 44, a shoulder bearing against one side of lever 36, and a nut 46 hearing against the opposite side of said lever for the purposeof holding the adjusting-screw from accidentally turnm ne ctcd to controller 25 by a cable 47, the lower end of which extends beneath the junction-pin 38 and is wound upon the adjustingscrew 4-1, while its upper end is wound upon an adjusting-screw 418 -projecting from the free end of the controller.

The space-governor is for the purpose of regulating th length of the steps. takenby the carriage longitudinally, and it consists of a member 49 and a duplicate member 50, the former of which is controlled by the Said levers are connected at Junction-lever 36 is adjustably con-- spacing-key, and the latter by the type-keys. Member at) is connected to junction-lever 36 by a cable 51, the lower end of which extends beneath junction-pin 38 and is wound upon the adjusting-screw Members 49 50 are in the form of indepei'ident levers fulcrumed upon a 'pin 52, and are provided at their free ends with shoulders 53 54:, and 55 56, respectively, adapted to be arranged in the path of a pin 57 projecting rearwardly from the primary pawl 17. ihlembers 49 50 are normally held in contact with the upper surface of pin 57 by a pair of rectractile springs 58 59, respectively, secured at their lower ends to frame 1. The free ends of members 19 50 maybe raised to lift shoulders 53 out of the path of pin 57 by a pair of cables 60 61, attached, respectively, at their lower ends to members 4L9 50 and at their upper ends to a pair of adjusting-screws 62 63, projecting rearwardly from frame 1.

I will now proceed to describe the line of connection controlled by the type-keys,whicli line is substantially a duplicate of the one controlled by the spacing-key 5. 64 designates a spacing-bar extending transverselybeneath the type-key levers 65, so that it may be actuated when any of saidlevers are depressed, but as said bar does not extend beneath the spacing-key levers 5*, it, of course, will not be depressed by the same. Bar 6 1 is suspended from a pair of levers 66 67 by a pair of cables 68. Levers 66 67 are fulcrumed upon pins 31 and interlock at their rear ends with a pair of levers 69 70, which also interlock at their'inner ends and are fulcrumed upon pins 35 immediately in front of levers 33 and 34, see Fig. 3. Levers '69 and 70 are connected to a junctioirlever 71 by a cable 72, which extends u ward over a junction-pin 73 and is woun around an adjusting-screw 75. Lever 71 is arranged opposite the junction-lever 36 and, like the latter, is fulcrurned upon a pin 74, and in addition to pin 73 and screw 75 is provided with adjusting screws 76 and 7', which are duplicates of those on lever 36. Cable 72 is held taut by a retractile spring 78, con-. nected to frame 1 and the outer end of lever 71 for the purpose ofrestoring the parts to normal after a type-key has been operated. Lever 7], like lever 36, is connected to the controller 25 by a cable 79, which extends down beneath pin 73 and is wound .upon adjusting-screw 77 so that it may be let out or taken up. Lever 71 is connected to the other half or member 50 of the space-gov ernor by a cable 80 which extends down beneath the pin 73 and is wound around adj listing-screw 76. I A

From the preceding description it will be understood that the spacing-key and the type-keys have main lines extendingto junction-levers 36 71, respectively, andbranch lines extending, respectively, to controller 25 and the space-governor.' All of said lines are independt-mtl y adjustable so that the parts of each may be adjusted in proper relation to each other, and the spacing-key maybe I I o v I converted into an ordinary smg e spacingkey, a double spacing auxiliary .ke a com: pound single and double s acing-(ey, or a compound single and doub e s acin auxiliary key. The type-keys are ikewlse conv vertible so they may either act independently of the spacing-key or'cotiperate therewith in controlling the length of the steps taken by the carriage, but as it is more desirable to use the spacing-key than the type-keys in all but the single spacing operation, I will only enter into a detailed description of those operations in which said spacing-key is em-,

ployed.

In order to convert the keys into single space keys, wires 51 80 are let out so they will not actuate the space-governor when a succeeding stud b bar 26 which is drawn back by a rctractlle spring 81 until pin 57 engages shoulders '53 55 of the space-governor which limits further leftward movement of the bar and the pawl. When the depressed key is released pawl 18 is instantly disengaged from the escapement-wheel by spring 23, so that the main sn-ing may rotate said cscapement-wheel and move the carriage to the left one step when further move ment is checked by bar 20 contacting with stop 21.

When it is desired to convert the spacingkey 5 into a double spacing auxiliary key the type key half 50 of the space-governor is raised by taking up cable 61 so that only its shoulder 56 remains in the path of pin 57. (Table 47 is then let out and cable 51 is taken up so'that when key 5' is fully depressed controller 25 will not be actuated mt member 49 wil l be raised to carry shoulder 53 out of the path of pin 57. Now

if a type-key be depressed to disengage pawl 17 from the escapement-wheel, before key 5 is released, said pawl will instantly be drawn to the left until it en ages the second succeediug stud and pin 57 engages shoulders 54 and 56 ofthe s. ace-governor, then when the type-key is re eased to permit pawl 18 to rise out of engagement with the escapement-whcel the carriage will move two steps to the left before being checked by bar 20 5 contacting with stop 21.

- is then The instant pawl 17 is disengaged Spacing-key 5 converted iuto a compound smgle and double spacing-key by raising the type-key half 50 of the spacegovernor so that only shoulder 56 of said half remains in the path of pin 57. Cable 51 lpartly taken up so that when the spaci'ngcey is but partly depressed,shoulder 53 will remain in the path of pin 57 and limit the movement of the carriage to one step, and if said key be fully depressed then member 49 will be raised and permit the carriage to move two steps.

Spacing-key 5 is converted into a compound single and double spacing anxiliarv key by taking up cables/51 and 80 sutficien y to enable any typ e-keyor the spacing-key .o actuate the escapem'ent. When a type-key, and the spacing-key are simultaneously depressed the space-governor will be raised to allow a double space by presenting shoulders 54 56 to pin 57, or a single space, only may be had by depressing'elther a type-key or the spacing-key, as either shoulder 53 or 55 will then remain in the path of pin 57. The spacing-key may also be utilized to lock the carriage while one or'more type-keys are operated, by taking up cable 27 so that pawl 18 will engage the escapement-wheel decidedly before pawl 17 is disengaged therefrom.

This prevents the spacing-key from beingdcpressed sufficiently to actuate member 49 of the space-governor.

Of the above forms, the most preferable are those where the spacing-key 5 is converted into a double spacing auxiliary key, or a compound single and double spacing auxiliar kev as in either form a double smce is obtained by depressing a type-key and the spacing-key. This results in a saving of considerable time during continuous writing, as it is obvious that the carriage is properly spaced longitudinally for the ini-. tial character of a word immediately after the final character of the preceding"\vo1'd has been printed, whereas heretofore a separate manipulation of the spacing-key was necessary to obtain the spaces between words.

While I have shown and'described the prefered form of my invention, I, of course,

reserve the right to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described -my invention, what I claim isz+ 1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a space key and type bars, an escapement mechanism operatively connected to said carriage, one line of connections between said type-bars and said escapement, a secondline of connections between said 'cscapement and said space key. space governor mechanism, and connections between said governor and each of said lines of connections, whereby the type and space keys may be operated to move the carriage nections' between said type-keys and said escapement mechanism, another line of connections between said space key and said escapement mechanism, a duplicate membered space governor, connections between one member ofsaid governor and said space key line of connections, and another line of connections between the second member of said governor and said type key line'of connections, whereby the space and type keys may be operated to move the carriage single or double space distances.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a rotary esca ement member operativelyv connected therewith, vibratory escapement members for controlling the action of said rotary member, an adj ustable space-governing member for limiting the movement of one of the'vibratory members and whereby each step of the carriage is limited to either ,a single or a double space, a plurality of type-keys, a main line of connections whereby the vibratory members are actuated by the type-keys, and an adjustable branch line of connections leading from the main line to the space-governing member whereby the latter is actuated by the type-keys.

4:- In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, an escapement-wheel operatively connected therewith, vibratory escapement members for controlling the action of said escapement-wheel, a space-governing member for limiting the movement of one of the vibratory members and whereby each step of the carriage is limited to eitherv a single or a double space, a plurality of type-keys, a main line of connections whereby the vibratory members are actuated by the type-keys, and abranch line of connections leading from the main line to the space-governing member whereby the latter is actuated by the type-keys, said main line and branch line being independently adjustable.

5. Inca typewritmg machme, the combnation of a carriage, an escapement-wheel operatively connected therewith, vibratory escapement members for controlling-the action of said escapement-wheel, an adjustable space-governing member for limiting the movement of one of the vibratory members and whereby each step of the carriage is-limited to either a single or a double space, a spacing-key, a main line of connections whereby the vibratory members are actuated by the spacing-key, and an adjustable branch line of connections leading from the main line to the space-governing member whereby the latter is actuated by the spacing-key.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a rotary escapement member operatively connected therewith, vi-

bratory escapement members for controlling the action of sald rotary member, a spacegovernmg member for lim ting the'moVe ment of one of the vibratory members and whereby each stepv of the carriage is limited to either a single or a double space, a spacing-key, a main line of connections whereby the vibratory membersare actuated by said spacing-key, and an adjustable branch line of connections leading from the main line of connections to the space-governing memberwhereby the latter is actuated doy the spacing-key, said main line and branch line being independently adjustable.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combi 'nation of a carriage, a rotary escapement member operativelyconnected therewith, vibratory escapement members for controlling the action of said rotary member, a space; governor consisting of two members for limiting the movement of the vibratory members and whereby each step of the carriage is limited to either a single or a double space, a key-board embracing type-keys and .a spacing-key, mechanism operated by the type-keys for actuating the vibratory members and one member of the space-governor, and mechanism operated by the spacing-key foractuating the vibratory members and the other member of the space-governor, said mechanisms being independently-adjustable and capable of simultaneous or independent action in effecting the desired spacing of the carriage.

S. In a typewrltmg mach-me, the combination of a carriage, type keys and space. key, escapement mechanism, flexible con nections between said escapement mechan--' ism and said type keys, similar connections between said escapement and said space key said escapement mechanism to permit utilization of said space-key at will as a single or double spacing key. j

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, type keys and a space key, escapement mechanism, flexible connections between said escapement mechanism and said type keys, similar connections between said escapement and'said space key and a governor comprising duplicated eleinent's havin connections with said escapement and sa d keys whereby to permit a cooperation between said escapement and said keys to-tregulate the movement of the carriage.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination, of a carriage which moves uniform distances at each 'escapement, type keys and a space-key, an escapement wheel operatively connected therewith and having arallel studs, pawls adapted to engage sai studs, connections between said awls and said type keys, similar connections etween said pawls ,and said space keyand a space governor having an element in connection with each "of said connections between said type keys and said space key, and operative on'one of said pawls to regulate at will the space movement of said carriage.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage which moves uniform distances at each escapement, ty e-keys and a space-key, an escapement w ieel operatively connected therewith and having parallel studs, pawls adapted to engage said studs, connections between said pawls and said type keys, similar connections between said pawls and said space key and a space gov ernor havin an element in connection with each of said connections between said type keys and said space key, and having a regulatable connection with one of said pawls whereby to move said carriage single or double spaces at will.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, type keys and a space key, escapement mechanism, connections between said escapement mechanism and said type keys, similar connections between said escapement and said space key, and a twopart governor, one part of which is connected to said space key connections, the other part to said' type key connections and both parts of which are operative on said escapement mechanism to regulate the movement of said carriage in single or double spaces.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, type keys and a space-key, escapement mechanism, connections between said escaptment meclnu'iism and said type keys, similar connections between said escapement and said space-key, and a two part governor having one part connected to said typekeys, one part to said space-key, and both parts operative on said escapement mechanism whereby, through cooperation of said space and type-keys, said carriage may have a compound single and double oscapement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

his WALLACE D. X McGILL.

. mark Witnesses:

F. G. Fisonaa, M. Cox. 

